Rev. Dr. William Wilson

brief biography and family

rector of Cliffe, Kent

Chaplain to Edmund Grindall, Archbishop of Canterbury

Prebendary of St. Paul's & Rochester Cathedrals, & Rectory of Cliffe:

Canon of Windsor

links

• https://www.mckaystevens.us/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I8954&...

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• Rev. William WILSON

• Birth: ABT 1542

• Death: 15 MAY 1615

• Burial: St. George's Chapel, Windsor, Berkshire, England

He was also said to have been born 1545.

He was also said to have married Isabel Woodhall about 1575.

"Arms of 'Wil'm Wilsonn, of Welborne, per Norroy flower, 1586.'

Per pale argent and azure three lions' gambs barways, erased and counterchanged.

Crest: - A lion's head erased argent guttee de sand.

Harleian Coll., No. 1550, Fol. 192, British Museum; Richard Mundy's copy of the Visitations of LIncolnshire, 1564 adn 1592."

"The Wilson arms (Harleian Manuscript 1507):

A confirmacon of ye Armes & guifte of ye Crest of Wm Wilson of Welborne in ye County of Lincolne son of William Wilson of ye Town of Perith [i.e. Penrith] in ye County of Cumber And to allhis issue & offspring for ever under ye hand & seale of Wm Flower alias Clarenc. king of Armes Dated ye 24 of March 1586 ye 19th of Queen Elizabeth.

Now 1594 Barneby Wilson of ye prebends of wildsor sonn of ye Aforesd Wm Wilson of Wilborne.

Arms: Per pale argent and azure, three lions gambs erased fessways in pale counterchanged.

Crest: A lion's head argent guttee de sang." Photo on file

"William Wilson was Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Prebendary of Rochester, Rector of Cliffe, near Rochester, etc. and for 32 years, Prebendary of St. George's Chapel at Windsor where he was buried."

"He was educated at Merton College, Oxford which he left in 1575 on his acceptance of a living from the Earl of Pembroke. . .He became Prebendary of Saint Paul's and Rochester Cathedrals, and held the rectory of Cliffe, Kent. In 1584 he became a Canon of Windsor in place of Dr. William Wickham."

"He was a Prebendary of St. Paul's and Rochester Cahtedral, and also rector of Cliffe, Kent. He was chaplain of Archbishop Grindall of Canterbury, and was made Canon of Windsor in 1584. He married Isabel, daughter of John and Elizabeth Woodhall of Walden, Essex, a niece of Bishop Grindall. He died in 1615, and was buried next his father at Windsor."

"Rev. William Wilson, D.D., of Merton College, Oxford, was also a prebendary of st. Paul's and Rochester cathedrals, and held the rectory of cliffe, in the county of Kent. In 1584 he became canon of Windsor in place of dr. Will. Wickham promoted to the see of Lincoln, being about that time chaplain to Edmund (Grindall), Archbishop of Canterbury. He married Isabel Woodhall, daughter of John and Elizabeth Woodhall of Walden in Essex, and niece of Archbishop Grindall. He was buried in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, near the body of his father, William Wilson, late of Wellsbourne, in Lincolnshire, Gent.",

With Isabel he had six sons and six daughters.

He was "Rev. William Wilson, D.D., Canon of Windsor."

"John Wilkinson, of London, gentleman, 3 May, 1614, . .. I do give and bequeath unto the Right Worshipfull my lving uncle William Wilson, Doctor of Divinity, five pounds and to every one of my loving cosens, his children, twenty shillings apiece."

"Dame Mary Rowe, widow of Sir Thomas Row, Knight, late citizen and alderman of London . . by her will of 21 March, 1579, proved in the year 1582-3, bequeathed to William Wilsonn, parson of Cliff, als Clyve, in Kent, a ring of gold, or three pounds or three pounds in money, and to his wife a ring of gold or its equivilent in money. Rowe, 1."

"He made his will on 23 August 1613, then, two years later, apparently sick and expecting to die, he added two codicils and died a few days later on 15 May 1615, aged 73. He was buried in the chael of Saint George by Windsor Casle as was his father. On the north side was a grave stone on which, in brass plates, was the figure of a man and this inscription. It is now gone. The inscription to his memory, now gone, was:" Inscription and will to be entered.

"Rev. William Wilson, in his will proved 27 May, 1615, mentions his godson William Sheafe when twenty-one; and in the codicil he mentions his son-in-law Mr. Dr. Thomas Sheafe."

"two of New England's greatest Divines, Hooker and Wilson, the latter of them, says Cotton Mather, 'having for his mother a niece of Dr. Edmund Grindal;' and the same veracious chronicler makes honorable mention, in his life of Wilson, of the 'good kinsman of his, who deserves to live in the same story, as he now lives in the same Heaven, with him, namely, Mr. Edward Rawson, the honored Secretary of the Massachuset Colony.' "

"William Wilson was educated at Merton College, Oxford, was prebendary of St. Paul's and Rochester Cathedral, Rector of Cliffe, Kent, and in 1584 became Canon of Windsor. He and his wife Anne's wills are printed in Henry F. Waters, Genealogical Gleanings in England (Boston, 1901), 1:54, 55, 1397. Elias Ashmole in History and Antiquities of Berkshire (Reading, 1736) recorded monumental inscriptions to them once located in St. George's Chapel but now lost. The shielf of arms to him and his wife, however, is still extant. the illustration below is from a rubbing [photo on file] "

"Rev. William Wilson, D.D., 'prebend of St. Paul's, of Richester and of Windsor, and rector of Cliff [-at-Hoo, Kent], with his wife Isabel Woodhall, a niece of Edmunc Grindal, Archbishop of Canterbury. Rev. William Wilson, the father, was in contact with Henry Hastings, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon (the patron of John Mansfield) as shown by a surviving letter from Rev. Wilson to the Earl. As previous writers have been unaware of the Wilson-Huntingdon connection, it may be helpful to print the abstract of this letter.

'1592/3], Jan. 29. Windsor. - I have made the abstract of the chantries of Windsor Chapel plainer and send than to you. It seems your chantry was appointed by the will of William, Lord Hastings, but was not perfected till after his death, by Dme Katheren, his wife, and his son Edward, Lord Hastings and Hungerford, which was the cause of the error in the abstract exhibited to you on Saturday last. I pray your purpose and our desires may take effect. Mr. Dean and my brethren have sent the late Lord Chancellor's robe by the bringer hereof, Mr. Wulward, one of our brethren, for your to see. If you like it, please send word what you will give for it. Endorsed: 'Wylson, a prebendary of Wynsor, J. 29.' "

"The career of William Wilson, D.D., appointed Canon of St. George's, Windsor 10 Dec. 1584, is related in S.L. Ollard, Fasti Wyndesorienses: The Deans and Canons of Windsor (Historical Monographs Relating to St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, 8), 76. He was born 1545, attended Merton College, oxford (Fellow 1565, B.A. 1564, M.A. 1570, B.D. 1576, D.D. 1607), rector of Islip, do. Oxford, 1578, Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Prebendary of Rochester [Kent] 1591, 1614, Rector of Cliffe [near Rochester], Chancellor of St. Paul's 1596-1615, died 15 May 1615, and was buried in St. George's Chapel near his father (there was a monumental inscription (now lost) to his father, William Wilson, late of Wellsbourne, co. Lincoln., gentleman, who died at Windsor Castle 27 Aug. 1587]). The sketch of Edmund Wilson, M.D. (1583-1616) is given in the same source. The endorsement - 'Wylson, a prebendary of Wynsor' - identifies the writer of this letter as Rev. William Wilson, the father of Rev. John Wilson. Mather states that Rev. William Wilson was 'a prebend of . . . Windsor,' and William's brass in St. George's, Windsor, also calls him 'Prebendarie of this Church.' The contact between William Wilson and the Earl of Huntingdon may indicate that they shared similar Puritan (or Proto-Puritan) religious views, although in this instance they were discussing the distinctly un-Puritan matter of a chantry. The marriage of John Wilson, a great-nephew of the Archbishop of Canterbury, into the family of one of Huntingdon's gentlemen, is not terribly unusual. Wilson's father has been called 'a man of deep erudition, a scholar and a courtier . . . we must suppose him to have been a persona grata in the eyes of Queen Elizabeth.' "

"See J. Garnder Bartlett's article on Wilson, Register [note 99]. William Wilson, John Mansfield, John Ewry alias Every [Eure] and William Vessey ere defendants in Chancery concerning woods called 'Byrkell,' 'Rigg,' 'Bentley Park,' land in Walington and Bentley, parcel of the manor of Bentley, Yorks., 42 Elizabeth I [PRO E134/42Eliz/East8)."

"William Wilson, Canon of St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle August, 1613, proved 27 May, 1615. To be buried in the chapel near the plsace where the body of my dear father lies. If I die at Rochester or in the County of Kent, then to be buried in the cathedral church of Rochester, near the bodies of wives Isabel and Anne. To my cousin College prebendary at Rochester. To the Fellows and scholars of Martin College, Oxford. My three sons Edmond, John and Thomas Wilson, daughter Isabel Guibs and daughter Margaret Rawson. My goddaughter Margaret Somers which my son Somers had by my daughter Elizabeth, late wife. To my god-son William Sheafe, at the age of twenty one ye Son Edmund, a fellow of King's College, Cambridge, eldest son of me, said William. To son John the lease of the Rectory and Parsonage Caxton in the County of Cambridge, which I have taken in his name. Thomas Wilson, my third son. Son Edmond to be executor and Mr Erasmus Webb, my brother-in-law, being one of the Canons of St. George Chapel, and my brother, Mr. Thomas Woodward, being steward of the town of New Windsor, to be overseers.

The witnesses were Thomas Woodwarde, Joh. Woodwarde, Robert Lower & thomas Holl.

In a codicil, dated 9 May, 1615, wherein he is styled William Wilson Doctor of Divinity, he directs his son Edmond to give to his son John forty pounds and to his wife forty marks, he gives to Lincoln College Oxford ten pounds toward a Library, and mentions son-in-law Mr Doctor Sheafe and daughter Gibbes. to this Thomas Sheafe was a witness, among others.

In another codicil, of 12 May, 1615, he says, I have provided for the husband of my daughter Isabel Givves a place in Windsor, in reversion, of some worth. His signature to this codicil was witnessed by David Rawson and William Newman. Rudd, 36."

"Rev. William Wilson, D.D., of Merton College, Oxford, was also a prebendary of St. Paul's and Rochester cathedrals, and held the rectory of Cliffe, in the county of Kent. In 1584 he became canon of Windsor in place of Dr. Will. Wickham promoted to the see of Lincoln, being about that time chaplain to Edmund (Grindall). Archbishop of Canterbury. He married Isabel Woodhall, daughter of John and Elizabeth Woodhall of Walden in Essex, and niece of Archbishop Grindall. He was buried in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, near the body of his father, William Wilson, late of Wellsbourne, in Lincolnshire, Gent."

"The following notes, taken from the History and Antiquities of Berkshire, by Elias Ashmole, Esq. (Reading, 1736), give the inscriptions found by that famous antiquary in the Chapel of St. George, Windsor Castle, relating to this family.

On the North Side lied a Grave-stone, on which, in Brass Plates, is the Figure of a Man, and this Inscription.

'To me to live is Christ, and to dye is Gain.

Philip. I.21.

Here underneath lied interr'd the Body of William Wilson, Doctour of Divinitie, and Prebendarie of this Church by the space of 32 yeares. He had Issue by Isabell his Wife six sons and six daughters. He dy'd the 15th of May, in the Year of our Lord 1615, of his Age the 73. beloved of all in his Life much lamented in his Death.

Who thinke of Deathe in Lyfe, can never dye,

But mount through Faith, from Earth to heavenly Pleasure,

Weep then no more, though her his Body lye,

His Doul's possest of never ending Treasure.'

On another small Brass Plate, on the same Grave-stone, is the following Inscription.

'Neere unto this Place lyes buried William Willson, the third Son, Who, after a long Trial of grievous Sickness, did comfortably yield up his Spirit in the Yeare of our Lord 1610. of his Age 23.'

On a Brass Plate, on a Grave-Stone Northward of the last, is this Inscripition.

'William Wilson, late of Wellsbourne, in the County of Lincolne, Gent. departed this Lyfe, within the castle of Windsor, in the Yeare of our Lord 1587. the 27th Day of August, and lyeth buried in this Place.' P. 309.

Arms of 'Will'm Wilsonn, of Welborne, per Norroy flower, 1586.'

'Per pale argent and azure three lions' gambs barways, erased and counterchanged.

Crest: - A lion's head erased argent guttee de sang.

Harleian Coll., No. 1550, Fol. 192, British Museum: Richard Mundy's copy of the Visitations of Lincolnshire, 1564 and 1592."

"Rev. William Wilson, D.D., born about 1542, graduated at Merton College, Oxford, B.A. 1564, M.A. 1570, B.D. 1576, D.D. 1607; rector of Islip, Oxfordshire, 1578; rector of Cliffe, co. Kent, 1579; rector of Caxton, co. Kent, 1593; prebendary of st. Paul's London, 1595-1615, and of Rochester Cathedral, 1591-1614. About 1580 he became chaplain to Edmund Grindll, Archbishop of Canterbury, and in 1583 became canon of Windsor, holding his position for thirty-two years, until his death May 15, 1615, aged 73, and was buried in the chapel of St. George, Windsor Castle, where a monumental brass to his memory states that he was 'beloved of all in his Life, and much lamented in his Death.' (Alumni Oxoniensis, vol. iv, p. 1657; Ashmole's 'History and Antiquities of Berkshire,' p. 305; Register, ante, vol. xxxviii, pp. 306-308, and vol lii, p. 144.) He married first, about 1575, Isabel, daughter of John Woodhall, Esq., of Walden, co Essex, by Elizabeth his wife, sister of Rev. Edmund Grindall, the celebrated Puritan Archbishop of Canterbury, described by Lord Bacon as 'the gravest and greatest prelate of the land.' (Register, ante, vol. xxxviii, pp. 301-308.) He married second, Anne, sister of REv. Erasmus Webb, canon of Windsor, who died in 1612, without issue. (Register, ante, vol. lii, pp. 143-4.) "

"Dr. William Wilson, a prebend of St. Paul's, of rochester and of Winsor, and rector of Cliffe."

"John Wilkinson, of London, gentleman, 3 May, 1614, acknowledged 27 May, 1628; acknowledged again 18 June, 1634; . . . I do give and bequeath unto the Right Worshipfull my loving uncle William Wilson, Doctor of Divinity, five pounds,, and to every one of my loving cosens, his children, twenty shillings apiece. . . "

"Dame Mary Rowe, widw of Sir Thomas Row, Knight, late citizen and alderman of London . . . by her will of 21 March, 1579, proved int he eyar 1582-3, bequeathed to William Wilsonn, parson of Cliff, als Clyve, in Kent, a ring of gold, of three pounds of three pounds in money, and to his wife a ring of gold or its equivilent in money. Rowe, 1."

Father: William WILSON b: ABT 1515

Mother: ?

Marriage 1 Isabel WOODHALL b: ABT 1550

Rev. William Wilson. Born ca 1542 at England.116 William died in May 1615.65 Buried on 15 May 1615 in St George's Chapel, Windsor.116 Education: Merton College, Oxford, B.A. 1564, B.D. 1576, D.D. 1607.116 William was prebendary of St Paul's and Rochester Cathedral, Rector of Cliffe, Kent, and in 1584 became Canon of Windsor. From Bartlett:116 William was "rector at Islip, Oxfordshire, 1578; rector of Cliffe, co. Kent, 1579; rector of Caxton, co. Kent, 1593, prebendary of St. Paul's, London, 1595-1615, and of Rochester Cathedral, 1594-1614. About 1580 he became chaplain to Edmund Grindall, Archbishop of Canterbery, and in 1583 became canon of Windsor, holding this position for thirty-two years, until his death May 15, 1615, aged 73, and was buried in the chapel of St. George, Windsor Castle, where a monumental brass to his memory states that he was 'beloved of all in his Life, and much lamented in his Death.'" Ca 1570 William first married Isabel Woodhall (4978) , daughter of John Woodhall Esq (ca 1519-) & Elizabeth Grindall (1341) (ca 1520-bef Apr 1583). Born ca 1546. Isabel died at England bef 1615. Buried in Rochester Cathedral, Kent.65